IDF tanks and Israeli aircraft attacked a Hamas military post in northern Gaza late Wednesday night in retaliation for a rocket attack fired at the city of Ashkelon at around 9 pm from the enclave.
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Israeli Air Force aircraft also targeted a port west of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis at around 1 am Thursday, according to the Hamas-linked Shehab news agency.
Explosions were reported in northern and central Gaza as well.
Among the sites that were hit were positions west of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, a new port at Khan Younis, a position of the Izz a-Din al-Qassam Brigades Hamas military wing, a position at Asqalan and a site in the town of Beit Lahiya, all of those in northern Gaza and struck multiple times early Thursday morning according to Arab media.
There were no reports of injuries.
The IDF launched the air strikes in response to the rocket attack, which took place during an event attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara in the southern coastal city.
The prime minister’s security team immediately ushered the Netanyahus to safety – as they are mandated to do by law – in a scene similar to that which took place in September during a campaign event in Ashdod.
During that incident, the prime minister insisted on returning to the stage to continue his speech. Most of the ministers who were present also remained in the room, as did attendees.